It has been within the framework of the course “Towards a new sustainable production model”. With this activity, the Menéndez Pelayo International University provides keys to the debate on the change of the production model.

The director of the Biodiversity Foundation, Ana Leiva, participated, on Wednesday, July 13, in the conference entitled “How and where to generate green employment”, during the first day of the course “Towards a new sustainable production model”, which runs until tomorrow, in Huesca, organized by the Menéndez Pelayo International University (UIMP).

The organisers of the course aim to provide keys that confirm that the change of the production model is possible and for this they are based on numerous initiatives undertaken by companies, Public Administrations and NGOs, which will be presented throughout the course.

In the last decade, jobs related to the environment in Spain have increased by 235 percent. This figure refers to those typically environmental jobs that already existed until now. It is expected, however, that in the coming years new jobs will be created linked to what are now called ‘green jobs’, in sectors such as integrated rehabilitation, sustainable tourism, or technologies that facilitate mitigation and adaptation to climate change.

According to the International Labor Organization (ILO) and the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), green jobs are those that reduce the environmental impact of companies and economic sectors to reach sustainable levels.

This afternoon’s conference revolved around this concept and also included contributions from Javier García Breva, president of the Renovables Foundation, and Víctor Viñuales Edo, director of ECODES, the latter in the role of moderator.

According to data outlined in the Report “Green Employment in a Sustainable Economy”, a joint publication by the FB and the Observatory of Sustainability in Spain (OSE) with the Secretary of State for Climate Change of the MARM, published in 2010, the green economy represents 2.62 percent of the employed population, being the management of the integral water cycle, renewable energies, environmental consulting and services to companies, environmental biotechnology, nanotechnology, and education and training are the sectors with the best future prospects for job creation.

Ana Leiva underlined the potential of green jobs. In addition, he referred to the economic and social aspects addressed in the Report “Towards a green economy. A Guide to Sustainable Development and Poverty Eradication”, published earlier this year by UNEP.

The Director of the Biodiversity Foundation spoke of the importance of having a better knowledge of the new professional requirements linked to environmental activities, and of updating the opportunities that emerge to face the challenges of global change.

Leiva said that the role of entrepreneurship is essential to boost the green economy and job creation. “The creation of new companies is being configured as a backbone vehicle for a new economic and social model based on knowledge and territorial cohesion”.

On this aspect, he highlighted the efforts made by the FB to promote employment and the green economy, such as the Empleaverde Programme, co-financed by the European Social Fund (ESF), and the Emprendeverde Network, which aims to promote the creation and consolidation of companies or new lines of business in activities related to the environment. In the three months that it has been in operation, this network of the new green economy has more than 1,000 members including entrepreneurs, investors and those interested in entrepreneurship.